Please help victims of typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines

(from Facebook sources)

Typhoon Ondoy has caused great devastation in the Philippines. If you can, please help through the following:

RELIEF/SHELTER/DONATIONS:
Red Cross donation through SMS: text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart) or contact your local Red Cross Chapters on how to Donate.

FRIENDS IN THE US AND CANADA WHO WISH TO HELP IN THE RESCUE/RELIEF OPERATIONS,YOU MAY DONATE THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. CALL 1-800-435-7669. DONATE THRU THE RED CROSS RESCUE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS OR pinoys abroad they can DONATE THROUGH TXTPOWER'S PAYPAL!

You may also deposit your donations directly to ABS-CBN Foundation's Banco de Oro account: *Branch Name: BDO Mother Ignacia Account Name: ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Account #: 5630060113 Relief Goods can be sent to Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (tel.no. 5639298/5639308).

Relief goods can also be brought Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40). Aquino volunteers: contact Jiggy Cruz who is organizing relief goods collection and distribution. Or call Ms. Clare Amador at mobile no 09285205508 or Jana Vicente at 09285205499 for more details regarding Noy/Mar relief efforts. Roxas volunteers: donations for flood relief can be brought to Balay, Expo Centro, Edsa cor. Gen, MacArthur, Araneta Center, Cubao.

Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT Charo Limaco has posted a list of specific items needed and where to donate them: Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes etc.. are being accepted at the Hillsborough Village chapel for families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios. – Donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy accepted at ARANAZ stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt. –

TeamManila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk, Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas to displaced countrymen due to Typhoon Ondoy. –

Caritas Manila Office and Radio Veritas (see above) appealing for the following goods: Canned food, rice, used clothes especially for children, milk.


Here is a comprehensive list of coordinated efforts for consolidating and distributing assistance to the needy on Sour Politics.

Strawberries

The Warehouse was having a strawberry sale at 6 small pots for 12 dollars and I knew I just had to get some. Strawberries remind me of my hometown of Baguio. Whenever strawberries are in season, mot colleagues in Manila would ask if I can buy some strawberries for them. I often do not acceed to such requests, because strawberries are such delicate things; they get bruised and battered easily so you can end up with a pretty bad batch after the six-hour trip to Manila. But when I am in a good mood I would sometimes bring a kilo or so.

At home, we would chill the strawberries and pour cream over a cupful. Yummmmmyyyyy!

So I bought 6 plants and gave a couple each to two of our family friends. So I now have two of these in our sun room. These wonderful plants must be a hybrid; at so small a size, they are already bearing flowers! As I write this, each plant already has three. I hope I will be successful in cultivating these strawberries and propagate them.


Technorati tags: strawberries

Thunderbolt's Waxwork

Philip Pullman is more popularly known for His Dark Materials trilogy. I immensely enjoyed reading these, and decided to look for his other works. I came across Thunderbolt's Waxwork, part of a series of books about the New Cut Gang (a bunch of kids who are into amateur detective work a-la Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins). I like these kinds of books for light reading and soon enough I have finished this book in record time.

Although it was my first time to get acquainted with the cast, the easy way in which the book was written enables you to jump right in to the action and get a feel for the chatracters and their distinct personalities. Overall an enjoyable read. Too bad I couldn't find other books for this series.

Technorati tags: book review

Baguio City's Convention Center tree park is saved!

This excerpt comes from a news article by Harley Palangchao for the Baguio Midland Courier. Trees for all generations to enjoy!

Preserving the Convention Center tree park, resolving the Diplomat Hotel development, and directing the release of multi-million funds for Burnham Park are the special gifts President Gloria Arroyo gave to Baguio ahead of its Sept. 1 centennial anniversary.

Saying that Baguio is one of the most unique places in the country, Arroyo, who graced the pre-centennial celebration at City Hall last Aug. 29, made Baguio officials, old timers, and guests happy when she announced that there will be no development within the tree park near the Baguio Convention Center.

The President’s announcement was much welcomed by concerned quarters especially advocates for the preservation of the natural grandeur of Baguio, particularly the remaining patches of forests in this mountain resort.

“We want the surrounding trees to be preserved. I instructed (Executive Sec. Eduardo) Ermita to tell GSIS that any development to be undertaken must be done only in the built up areas and not in any place with plenty of trees,” Arroyo said.

The President received a resounding applause considering that majority of the city officials and the whole Baguio Centennial Commission have stood pat in their resolve not to allow the destruction of the tree park which plays a critical role in the city’s ecosystem.

Arroyo seemed to have fully acknowledged the importance of preserving the tree park when she said that “environment protection is a very high priority in our development agency.”

Read the rest of the story.

Technorati tags: Baguio